Indiana

IN, United States

Indiana does not have state legislation that specifically addresses education about cord blood options. However, Indiana does have legislation designed to create a public donation program, and the existence of such a program indirectly creates a need to promote public awareness of donation.

Indiana House Bill 1172 of 2008 authorizes the Secretary of Human Services to form an Indiana non-profit corporation that will collect cord blood donations, plus donations of other perinatal tissues. The Indiana legislation is very unusual in that it explicitly calls for the collection of "other perinatal tissues". As of 2010, there is a non-profit organization that collects donated birth tissues from Indiana hospitals and sells them to tissue banks.

FAQs

If I donate my baby's cord blood, will that child have free access to cord blood for a transplant?

No. When a mother signs the Informed Consent to donate cord blood, she gives up any guaranteed access to that blood. The blood may not be banked, and if it is banked, it may be released to some one else. There have been cases where families needed their child's cord blood and got it back from a public bank, but it is important to realize there are no guarantees of access to donated cord blood. Cord blood donors also do not receive guarantees of priority treatment or waived fees if your child later needs a donor. The reward for donating cord blood is the possibility that your baby may Be The Match that saves a life.

What are the most important considerations in picking a family bank?

1. Nationality - You must follow the national regulations of the country where you will give birth.2. Travel conditions - It is best to pick a bank that can receive and process the cord blood within 48 hours of birth. It is also best for the cord blood to be shipped in a transport container that will maintain it at close to "room temperature".

What is the role of the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Advisory Panel?

Our panel of scientific and medical experts reviews and approves our educational brochures. Each member may assist with development of new web content in his or her area of expertise. The panel is also on-call to answer difficult questions from readers.